COMMUNIST ROAD NET DEVELOPMENT IN THE LAOTIAN PANHANDLE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04560A005400010060-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 26
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: October 29, 1999
• Sequence Number: 60
• Publication Date: April 1, 1966
• Content Type: REPORT

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COMMUNIST ROAD NET
DEVELOPMENT IN THE
LAOTIAN PANHANDLE
GROUP 1 EXCLUDED FROM
AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND DECLASSIFICATION
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COMMUNIST ROAD NET DEVELOPMENT IN THE LAOTIAN PANHANDLE
INTRODUCTION
This report is designed to present an overall view of the road
network -- including its development and utilization -- in those areas
of the Laotian Panhandle under Pathet Lao/North Vietnamese Army
(PL/NVA) control, and to depict the lines of communication available
to these forces through
The river crossings and facilities (i.e. military camps, truck
parks, rest/refuel areas) included within this study are presented as
being representative of PL/NVA practices of maintaining, servicing,
and securing their logistics net within the Laotian Panhandle.
Trail systems in the Panhandle area will not be included in this
report because of the impossibility of distinguishing, through photo
interpretation, between native- and communist-used trails.
The information contained in this report is a compilation of
intelligence which has been previously disseminated by NPIC in the
form of mission coverage indices, mission indices, mission summaries,
cables, and briefing boards. All measurements in the text are derived
from maps referenced at the end of the report.
BACKGROUND
The Laotian highway system was originally planned and con-
structed as part of the overall road system of French Indochina.
Historically Laos has been the weakest link in the French Indochina
road net, primarily due to its remoteness from power centers and
its lack of productivity. Development by the French of the Laos road
net was confined to construction of the minimum facilities necessary
to support basic administrative functions. Laos was brought into
the Indochina road net by a single primary road through the Mekong
River Valley and a few east-west roads from the Vietnam coast to
the Mekong Valley.
The only roads in the Panhandle area of Laos prior to World
War II are shown on the map on page 5. The most significant roads
are described below.
Route 13
Originally the only north-south route through Laos, Route 13
extended south from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, Pak Sane, across
the Cambodia border, and terminated at Saigon.
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Route 8
Beginning at Vinh, Route 8 entered Laos via the Deo Keo Nua
(Keo Nua Pass), extended generally southward to Ban Nape, Lak Sao,
and terminated at a junction with Route 12 near Mahaxay.
Route 12
One of two east-west highways in the Laotian Panhandle con-
necting Route 13 with the Vietnam coast roads, Route 12 extended
east from Thakhek on the Mekong River, through Mahaxay and the
Deo Mu Gia (Mu Gia Pass), to a convergence with Vietnam Route 15.
Route 9
This second east-west highway crossing the Laotian Panhandle
extended from Savannakhet, east through Muong Phine and Sepone,
to Lao Bao and Dong Ha, Vietnam.
From the beginning of World War II until the end of the first
Indochina War in 1954, the French made no significant additions to
the road network in the Laotian Panhandle. Since 1954, however,
some improvements in the Laotian transportation net have been made
by the communists -- the most significant improvement being the
reconstruction of the road through Mu Gia Pass and the addition of
Route 23, connecting Routes 12 and 9.
Prior to 1963, the communist forces cleared an extensive area
west of the Laos/North Vietnam/South Vietnam border in the Laotian
Panhandle by capturing Lak Sao, Mahaxay, and Muong Phine. This
clearing action assured PL/NVA forces the use of Keo Nua and Mu Gia
Passes, and portions of Routes 8, 12, and 23 south to Route 9. However,
Royal Laotian control of Saravane and Attopeu, south of Route 9, pre-
vented the use of Route 16 and the southern portion of Route 23 as an
extension of the infiltration/transportation net to the south. The
motorable road net available to the communist forces as of
25X1D is shown on the map on page 7.
For several years the Laotian Panhandle has provided North
Vietnam with a primary avenue for supporting the insurgents in South
Vietnam. The sequence of roads, rivers, trails, supply dumps, and
base areas that have been observed in the eastern portion of the Pan-
handle have in many cases been in communist hands for four years
or longer. A vast network of trails has existed throughout the area
and new trails have been created by PL/NVA forces moving through
the area on foot, carrying light equipment. Until recently, trails
were the only land routes available to the infiltrators south pf Route 9
and they still provide the primary means of crossing the borders of
25X1D South Vietnam and Cambodia.
25X1D In communist forces began construction of a
road net that would, by extend from Route 15 and Mu Gia
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Pass to Cambodia. The newly-constructed roads are shown on the map
on page 9. This effort obviously carries a high priority, indicated
by the fact that North Vietnam, despite a serious need at home, has
sent mechanical earth-moving equipment to the Laotian Panhandle
road construction program.
With the construction of a motorable road net deep in the communist
controlled territory of Laos, as shown on the map on page 11, the
capability now exists to move heavy weapons, heavy equipment, and
greater amounts of material to the South Vietnam and Cambodia border
areas. The ability to carry troops by vehicle also increases the speed
with which communist forces can be deployed to the South Vietnam
border area.
PL/NVA ROAD NET
The roads which comprise the PL/NVA road net in the Laotian
Panhandle are described below in the order in which they progress
geographically from north to south. The description will cover the
period between and will be concerned
with the changes made during that period and the present status of
the roads.
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PRIOR TO WORLD WAR II
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MU GIA PASS
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Motorable roads available to communist forces
Other motorable roads
NAUTICAL MILES
CAMBODIA
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Motorable roads available to communist
forces on 1 January 1964
n ? Other motoiable roads
---- Other roads in disuse
COMMUNIST ROADS DEVELOPED FROM
? February to March 1965
April to August 1965
T.- September to December 1965
January to March 1966
MAU TI CAL MILES
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KED NUA PtSS
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'LAI( SAO
NORTH
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Communist roads in disdziss.?..."
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---- Other roads in disuse
10 0
NAUTICAL MILES
SIEM PANG
CAMBODIA
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BEST COPY
Available
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LAOS
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?KHAM KEUT
ROUTE 81
ROUTES 8 AND 81
One of two motorable access roads leading from North
Vietnam into the Laotian Panhandle, Route 8 begins at Visit,
North Vietnam, extends generally southwest for 63 nautical
miles (nm), enters Laos via the Deo Ken Nun (Keo Nua Pass),
and joins Route 88 near Lak Sao. Here Route 8 turns south
extending 45 nm to a junction with Route 12 south of Ban
Nhommarath Keo.
Laos Route 81 consists of a 17-nm road segment ex-
tending west from its junction with Route 8 near Lak Sao to a
valley near Kham Keut.
Routes 8 and 81 were last entirely serviceable during 25)(1D
the dry season. The 45-nm north-south segment
of Route 8 between Lak Sao and Han Nhommarath Keo was not
reopened after the end of the =rainy season and remains 25X1D
unserviceable due to a lack of maintenance and bomb craters
resulting from air strikes. Continuing efforts have been ex-
pended to keep the east-west portions of these routes open
to vehicular traffic, despite the frequent air attacks, and
they are currently motorable.
LAK SAO
ROUTE
DEO KEO NUA
NAPE
LAOS
ROUTE 8
; BAN NHOMMARATH KEO
NORTH
VIETNAM
3
2
1VIINNIANO)
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THAILAND
0 SCALE 1:250,000
5
10 Kilometers
5 Nautical 51 Sas
10 Statute MlieS
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